Parks and Recreation: Season Three for NBC Sitcom; What About Community?

by Trevor Kimball, January 30, 2010

The peacock network has made a surprising early pickup and has renewed Parks and Recreation for a third season. What gives?

Parks and Recreation is a documentary-style comedy (similar to The Office) that follows the employees of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana. The cast features Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Paul Schneider, Nick Offerman, and Chris Pratt.

The NBC series debuted in April 2009 with a six episode season. Parks averaged just a 2.37 rating in the key demo and 5.35 million total viewers for the season. Despite the disappointing ratings, the show was renewed for a second cycle.

This season, the numbers have dipped even lower. Thus far, the sitcom has averaged a 2.3 rating in the 18-49 demo and 5.1 million viewers. Parks was expected to be on the bubble for renewal this time around but the peacock execs have just given the show an early renewal for season three. Why?

Which NBC sitcom deserves the renewal more?

According to THR, the early renewal was done for production reasons, to lock in the actors’ schedules. Several of the performers have other projects in the works with Poehler being in heavy demand. It also doesn’t hurt that the show is popular with people in the 18-49 demo that earn more than $100,000 per year.

Practically speaking, NBC will have to essentially rebuild the 2010-11 schedule and will want some established shows to anchor the nights. No word on how many episodes of Parks the network has ordered but it seems likely that they’ll start with 13 installments and increase the order as needed.

The Office and 30 Rock are all but guaranteed to be renewed but there’s no word on how the Parks order will affect Community’s chances for survival. The Chevy Chase freshman sitcom typically performs better than Parks so it would seem that it’s also a lock for renewal.

However, the network has eight comedy pilots in development and would likely want to keep a Thursday night timeslot open to try one or two. The network may be waiting to look at the new pilots until making a decision about Community.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that Parks has been renewed? If you had to choose, would you have liked to have seen Community renewed over Parks?

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The show had a slow start but I stuck with it and now the writing seems better. I thought of a wonderful story line; a wealthy, excentric cat lover leaves the city a huge endowment, but the stipulation is that the money must go to build a cat park where cats can come socialize. The park has to have a great big statue of the ladies favorite cat. The possibilites are endless.

parks and recreations is my new all time favorite show. Anyone who doesnt like it has never really watched it. Its the only show thats ever made me laugh out loud multiple times every episode! Watch the greg pikattus episode or the stakeout. Theyre the best (and im not a total loser..i only know the titles of the episodes cuz we watch it on netflix)

I love Parks & Recreation! I haven’t seen Community but it would be upsetting to see P&R end. It is such a great show, and Amy is hilarious as well as the cast and crew. I think people judge the show before they even give it a chance. This show must go on!

I really think that most of the people who talk about how horrible Parks and Rec is only watched a show or two from the first season. It took me a while to really get into it and they didn’t hit their stride until season 2. Now, I’m hooked and I would be heartbroken if it was to be canceled. I do think that people need to give it more of a chance. And I don’t blame NBC for not wanting to let go of Amy Poehler.

This is one of the commercial network shows that is always watched in this house, and that is saying something as we practically ignore all commercial stations with the exception of CBC.s Rick Mercer and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and NBC’s 30 rock.

Can’t read anymore negative comments about P and R. Love that show just as much as I love “The Office”. This past year’s Thrusday night lineup takes me back to the time when they(NBC) had “News Radio”, “Friends”, “Seinfeld”, and “Fraizer” on. I see nothing weak about their programming. I would love to see it unchanged this upcoming season..

Parks is the best sitcom on TV right now. Community is funny and I think it should be renewed. NBC should drop Heroes and other bad dramas and add another night of comedy if they are desperate to add new shows. Perhaps wednesday night would be a good warm up night to Thursday.

These are both great shows. P/R has quickly stompped on the sophomore slump syndrome and is actually better than the Office. Community is more smart and fresh. They should both be renewed. Cancel Heros instead.

IMHO, NBC has had favoritism for this show (Parks & Recreation) since its inception. It promoted it FAR more than other shows it had at the time, and has made every move indicating that this show is it’s darling. Sadly, it’s merely an extension of The Office. How interestignt hat Community performs better, yet is not renewed as this time… probably for reasons stated in the main article. Poor programing decisions have been the norm at NBC for quite a while now. And I don’t MIND if a network wants to use poor ratings as a reason for cancellation, but… Read more »

I am soooo pissed off right now. How did that piece of **** show Parks&Rec get renewed? Its SO stupid! Community should have been renewed rather than that stupid show. AND where does NBC get off renewing such a poorly doing show while they cancel My Own Worst Enemy which was performing better than BOTH shows???

My Own Worst Enemy is an hour long action/drama with special effects, and Christian Slater as the lead. That means its expensive. Shows that cost much more to make are looked at differently than 22 minute comedies.